June 2012 Liahona - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

RISE TO YOUR NOBLE
STATURE
“We call upon you wonderful young
brethren to diligently strive to be ‘born
again.’ Pray for this mighty change in
your life. Study the scriptures. Desire
more than all else to know God and to
become like His holy Son. Enjoy your
youth but ‘put away childish things’:
“Shun profane and foolish chatter.
“Flee all evil.
“Avoid contention.
“Repent where needed.
“This will help you rise to the noble
stature of your manhood. The qualities
of courage, trustworthiness, humility,
faith, and goodness will be yours.
Friends will admire you, parents will
praise you, brethren in the priesthood
will depend on you, and the young
women will adore you and become even
better because of you. God will honor
you and endow your priesthood service
with power from on high.”
Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor
in the Presiding Bishopric, “The Power
of the Aaronic Priesthood,” Liahona and
Ensign, Nov. 2011, 48–49.
36 Liahona
the following responsibilities:
He prepares the sacrament. It is
the responsibility of the teachers to
always have the sacrament ready for
sacrament meeting. Preparing the sacrament
is a good example of doing
service without expecting praise for
doing it. Members often do not realize
that the teachers prepare the sacrament,
but the service is performed
nevertheless, and the Lord is pleased
because it is true service.
“The teacher’s duty is to watch
over the church always, and be with
and strengthen them” (D&C 20:53).
One way he does this is by serving as
a home teacher.
He is to “see that there is no
iniquity in the church, neither hardness
with each other, neither lying,
backbiting, nor evil speaking” (D&C
20:54). This responsibility includes
being a peacemaker by helping
the members get along with each
other. He should encourage those
around him to always see the good
in others.
He is to “see that the church meet
together often, and also see that all
the members do their duty” (D&C
20:55). Part of this responsibility is
inviting others to attend church.
Priests
A priest has all the responsibilities
of a deacon and teacher. He also has
the following responsibilities:
He officiates at the sacrament
table. The honor of administering
the sacrament is given to the priests,
who offer the sacramental prayers.
A priest should be familiar with the
sacramental prayers, dress appropriately,
and wash his hands before
performing this ordinance. Above all,
priests should be worthy to perform
this sacred ordinance as the Savior’s
representatives.
Another duty of priests is to baptize
when authorized by the bishop
or branch president (see D&C 20:46).
Baptism by the proper authority is
one of the most important and sacred
ordinances in the Church, for it is
the ordinance by which we become
members of the Church, are forgiven
of our sins, and enter the path to the
celestial kingdom.
“The priest’s duty is to preach,